Communication system for transmitting captured object information between at least two communication partners

ABSTRACT

A communication system for transmitting detected object information items (OI) between two communication partners, comprising: a first communication partner, formed as a target distance measuring device having a communication device and an object detection device, wherein the object detection device detects remote objects and generates an OI describing a respective detected remote object, and the communication device transmits a generated OI to a second communication partner, a second communication partner, formed as a telescopic sight device having a communication device and a display device displaying a visual field which varies depending on the orientation of the to sight device, wherein the communication device is configured to receive OI transmitted by the first communication partner and the display device is configured to display received OI, wherein objects located outside the visual field at a given orientation of the telescopic sight device are displayable marked as outside the visual field.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/461,333 filed May 15, 2019, granted as U.S. Pat. No. 10,852,101;which is a U.S. national stage entry of International Application serialno. PCT/EP2018/051236 filed Jan. 18, 2018, which claims priority toGerman Patent Application serial no. 10 2017 101 118.8 filed Jan. 20,2017. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety as if set forth verbatim.

The invention relates to a communication system for transmittingdetected object information items between at least two communicationpartners.

A corresponding communication system comprises at least twocommunication partners communicating with each other as communicatingcomponents of the communication system. A respective communicationpartner forming a component of the communication system comprises acommunication device which is configured to transmit information to afurther communication partner and/or to receive information transmittedby a further communication partner.

In the communication system described herein which, for example, can beprovided for military use, a first communication partner is a targetdistance measuring device and a second communication partner is atelescopic sight device. The target distance measuring device comprises,in addition to the communication device, an object detection devicewhich is configured to detect remote objects and to generate an objectinformation item describing a respective detected object. The telescopicsight device comprises, in addition to the communication device, adisplay device comprising a visual field which varies depending on the(spatial) alignment of the telescopic sight device.

To date, it is common practice for a given orientation of the telescopicsight device to actually display on the display device only objectslocated in the visual field at the given orientation of the telescopicsight device. Objects located outside the visual field of the telescopicsight device at the given orientation of the telescopic sight device arenot displayed. The information content of the display device istherefore limited to the objects actually located in the visual field ofthe telescopic sight device.

The object underlying the invention is to disclose an improvedcommunication system, in particular with regard to an extendedinformation content of a display device of a telescopic sight deviceforming a communication partner of a communication system.

The object is achieved by a communication system according to claim 1.The dependent claims relate to possible embodiments of the communicationsystem.

The communication system described herein, which can also be referred toas or considered a communication device, generally serves to transmitdetected object information items—which can also be referred to as orconsidered object data—between a plurality of, that is, at least two,communication partners. As is given in the following, the transmissionof detected object information items and the transmission of all furtherinformation between the respective communication partners of thecommunication system typically takes place via a radio-based, inparticular bidirectional, possibly data-encrypted, communicationconnection between the respective communication partners of thecommunication system. A radio-based communication connection can bebased on any communication standard for radio-based data transmission,so that reference is made to Bluetooth or WLAN connections only by wayof example.

A first communication partner of the communication system is a targetdistance measuring device. The target distance measuring device isconfigured in its basic functionality for detecting a distance betweenthe location of the target distance measuring device and an object ortarget remote therefrom. The detection of the distance between thelocation of the target distance measuring device and an object remotefrom this can, for example, be effected optically. Specifically, thetarget distance measuring device can for example be formed as aso-called range finder, in particular laser range finder, or comprisesuch. The target distance measuring device can be associated with afirst user of the communication system.

The target distance measuring device is formed with an object detectiondevice or comprises at least one such. The object detection deviceimplemented as hardware and/or software is configured to detect remoteobjects which are both living mobile or stationary objects, that is,humans or animals, and inanimate mobile or stationary objects, that is,for example, land or air crafts, buildings, etc., and to generate atleast one object information item directly or indirectly describing orrelating to a respective detected object. The object information itemcan, for example, describe or relate to the orientation and/or positionof an object, in particular also the relative orientation and/orposition of the object relative to the target distance measuring device.To detect respective remote objects, the object detection device can beequipped with suitable object detection algorithms, which are configuredto detect specific objects, possibly from a plurality of detectedobjects, in particular based on specific detectable object-specificfeatures.

The target distance measuring device is further formed having acommunication device or comprises at least one such. The communicationdevice can be configured for, in particular radio-based, possiblyencrypted, transmission of information to and/or from a furthercommunication partner of the communication system. Specifically, thecommunication device can be a, possible modular, transmitting and/orreceiving device. The communication device is in particular configuredto transmit an object information item generated by the object detectiondevice to a second communication partner of the communication system,that is, in particular to a telescopic sight device explained below.

A second communication partner of the communication system is atelescopic sight device, optionally fastenable or fastened to a firearmdevice such as a rifle. According to its basic functionality, thetelescopic sight device is configured to optically magnify or enlarge ascene distant from the location of the telescopic sight device or anobject or target located within such a scene, and comprises suitableoptically magnifying elements, that is, in particular an opticallymagnifying arrangement, in particular of lens-like or lens-shapedoptical elements. The optically magnifying or enlarged display of thescene remote from the location of the telescopic sight device can bedone, for example, electronically and/or optically. Specifically, thetelescopic sight device can for example be formed as an optical and/orelectronic telescopic sight or comprise such. The telescopic sightdevice can be assigned a second user of the communication system, whichcan for example be a sharp shooter.

The telescopic sight device is formed having a display device orcomprises at least one such device. The display device or the telescopicsight device comprises a visual field which varies depending on the(spatial) orientation of the telescopic sight device. The visual fieldchanges accordingly in a manner known per se depending on the (spatial)orientation of the telescopic sight device. The display device can bearranged or formed in an optical channel of the telescopic sight deviceextending between an eyepiece-side and an objective-side end. Thedisplay device can, for example, be formed as an electronic display, inparticular as an OLED display, or comprise such.

The telescopic sight device is also formed having a communication deviceor comprises at least one such device. The communication device can beconfigured for, in particular radio-based, possibly encrypted,transmission of information to and/or from a further communicationpartner of the communication system. Specifically, the communicationdevice can be an optionally modular, transmitting and/or receivingdevice. The communication device is in particular configured to receivean object information item transmitted by the first communicationpartner, that is, the telescopic sight device.

The display device is configured to display generated display contents,in addition to the display contents supplied by the telescopic sightdevice, that is, in particular the scene optically magnified by means ofthe telescopic sight device, even display contents not supplied by thetelescopic sight device, that is, in particular independently of thedisplay contents supplied by the telescopic sight device. The latterdisplay contents are, in particular, received object information items.The display device is thus configured to also display received objectinformation items in addition to the display contents supplied by thetelescopic sight device. It is essential that, at a given orientation ofthe telescopic sight device and a visual field of the telescopic sightdevice defined by the given orientation of the telescopic sight device,objects located outside of the visual field are marked as displayable ordisplayed outside the visual field of the telescopic sight device. Bymeans of the display device, therefore, objects possibly supplied by thetelescopic sight device, actually located in the visual field of thetelescopic sight device at a given orientation of the telescopic sightdevice, and objects additionally located outside the visual field of thetelescopic sight device at the given orientation of the telescopic sightdevice, can be displayed. Objects located outside the visual field ofthe telescopic sight device at the given orientation of the telescopicsight device are displayed marked as located outside the visual field ofthe telescopic sight device.

On the one hand, the display contents supplied via the telescopic sightdevice are therefore displayed to the user of the telescopic sightdevice via the display device of the telescopic sight device. On theother hand, received object information items can be displayed to a userof the telescopic sight device, wherein if these include objects locatedoutside the visual field of the telescopic sight device at a givenorientation of the display device or the telescopic sight device, aredisplayed marked as located outside the visual field of the telescopicsight device. A user of the telescopic sight device is informed via thedisplay device on the one hand about objects actually located in thevisual field of the telescopic sight device and about objects locatedoutside the visual field of the telescopic sight device or the scene.The information content of the display device is therefore not limitedto the objects actually located in the visual field. There is animproved communication system, in particular with regard to an extendedinformation content of the display device of the telescopic sightdevice.

An object described by the object information item, in particularlocated outside the visual field of the telescopic sight device at agiven orientation of the telescopic sight device, does not have to bedisplayed as this very object, that is, an object with the actuallygiven, especially visual, features of the object. An object described bythe object information item can therefore be partially or completelydisplayed in another representation, that is, in particular partially orcompletely abstracted. In particular, an object described by the objectinformation item, in particular located outside the visual field of thetelescopic sight device at a given orientation of the telescopic sightdevice, can be represented by graphical and/or alphanumeric informationitems. A correspondingly changed or abstracted representation of objectsdescribed by the object information item can, for example, with regardto the data volume transmitted between the communication partners, beexpedient, as the transmitted data volume can be kept relatively small.

Objects located outside the visual field at the or a given orientationof the telescopic sight device can therefore be displayable or displayedmarked outside the visual field by a graphical information item, inparticular by at least one symbol. A corresponding graphical informationitem, that is, in particular a corresponding symbol, can be at least onegraphical element, in particular a point, a triangle, a quadrangle,etc., or a combination of several, possibly different, graphicalelements.

Alternatively or in addition, objects located outside the visual fieldat the or a given orientation of the telescopic sight device can bedisplayable or displayed marked as outside the visual field by analphanumeric information item. A corresponding alphanumeric informationitem can be at least one alphanumeric element, in particular a letter ora number, or a combination of several, possibly different, alphanumericelements.

As noted, objects located outside of the visual field at the or a givenorientation of the telescopic sight device can be displayable ordisplayed marked as outside the visual field by a graphical informationitem and/or by an alphanumeric information item. In this case, objectswhich differ in at least one object parameter relating to a property ofthe respective object is displayable or displayed by different graphicalinformation items and/or by different alphanumeric information items.For example, the distance of the respective objects to the telescopicsight device can be used as a respective object parameter. Consequently,objects located at different distances from the telescopic sight devicecan be represented differently, that is, in particular in differentcolors and/or geometries.

In order to ensure a clear optical distinctness of respective objectslocated within and outside the visual field at the or a givenorientation of the telescopic sight device, objects located within thevisual field can be displayable or displayed by a first graphical and/oralphanumeric information item at the or a given orientation of thetelescopic sight device marked as within the visual field and objectslocated outside the visual field at the or a given orientation of thetelescopic sight device can be displayable or displayed by a secondgraphical and/or alphanumeric information item different from the firstgraphical and/or alphanumeric information item marked as outside thevisual field.

A first graphical information item and a second graphical informationitem, in particular a first and a second symbol, can differ, forexample, in at least one symbol parameter, describing in particular thegeometry and/or the color of a respective symbol. Similar applies tofirst and second alphanumeric information items.

As noted, objects located outside of the visual field at the or a givenorientation of the telescopic sight device are displayable or displayedas outside the visual field by a graphical information item in the formof a symbol. In this case, the symbol can be a directional symbol, inparticular arrow-like or -shaped, which indicates a direction in whichthe respective object is located relative to the telescopic sightdevice. The information content of the representation of respectiveobjects that are marked displayable or displayed outside of the visualfield is thereby increased in a simple manner and the communicationsystem as a whole is further improved.

Objects located outside the visual field at the or a given orientationof the telescopic sight device are displayable or displayed in additionto at least one additional alphanumeric information item. As will beseen below, the information content can thus further be increased inconnection with the display of objects located outside the visual fieldand the communication system can be further improved overall.

The alphanumeric information item or the additional alphanumericinformation item can be, for example, a distance information itemdescribing a distance of the respective object relative to thetelescopic sight device, and/or a position information item describing acurrent or future position, in particular GPS coordinate position, ofthe respective object, and/or a relative distance information itemdescribing a current or future relative position of the respectiveobject relative to the telescopic sight device, and/or subjectinformation item describing the type and/or subject of the object,and/or object evaluation information item evaluating the object asfriendly, hostile or neutral or unknown. Corresponding additionalinformation items, that is, for example, current or future positions, inparticular GPS coordinate positions, position information itemsdescribing a respective object, can be generated by a furthercommunication partner of the communication system and explained furtherbelow, and transmitted to the target distance measuring device and/orthe telescopic sight device.

The object detection device can comprise a hardware and/orsoftware-implemented selection device, which is configured for theuser-side selection of certain detected remote objects from a number ofremote objects detected by means of the object detection device. Theselection device is a user interface, that is, for example, a useractuating element arranged or formed on a housing of the target distancemeasuring device, via which a user can make a selection of certaindetected remote objects from a number of remote objects detected bymeans of the object detection device. The object detection device can beconfigured to generate an object information item describing at leastone user-selected detected remote object. The selection device thusenables a selection of specific objects detected by means of the objectdetection device, so that this descriptive object information item isgenerated and transmitted to the telescopic sight device only foruser-selected detected remote objects. This, in turn, can be expedientwith regard to the data volume transmitted between the communicationpartners, as the transmitted data volume can be kept comparativelysmall.

In addition to the first or second communication partner(s), thecommunication system can additionally comprise at least one furthercommunication partner. The further communication partner is of courseformed having a communication device or comprises at least one such. Thecommunication device can be configured for, in particular radio-based,possibly encrypted, transmission of information to and/or from the firstand/or second communication partner of the communication system.Specifically, the communication device can be an optionallymodular-type, transmitting and/or receiving device.

The at least one further communication partner can be formed having acommunication device, for example, as a user-side mobile end device, inparticular as a laptop, smartphone or tablet PC. The communicationdevice of the further communication partner can be configured to receiveobject information items transmitted by the first communication partner.The further communication partner can be configured to process theobject information item transmitted by the first communication partnerin terms of hardware and/or software, that is, in particular with regardto an evaluation criterion, such as to evaluate a temporal change of theobject information item, for example, at a time-varying position of theobject described by the object information item.

As indicated above, the at least one further communication partner canbe configured to generate corresponding additional information, positioninformation describing a respective object, that is, for example,current or future positions, in particular GPS coordinate positions, canbe generated by a, further explained below, further communicationpartner of the communication system and to transmit them to the targetdistance measuring device and/or the telescopic sight device.

The further communication partner can comprise a display device fordisplaying information and a storage device in which geographical mapinformation is stored. The display device can, for example, beconfigured to display geographical map information and additional objectlocated therein and described by a received object information itemand/or a line of vision described by a received visual field informationitem and/or a visual field described by a received visual fieldinformation item.

The invention also relates to a target distance measuring device for acommunication system as described. The target distance measuring deviceis characterized in particular by a communication device and an objectdetection device, wherein the object detection device is configured todetect remote objects and to generate an object information itemdescribing or relating to a respective detected remote object, and thecommunication device is configured to transmit a generated objectinformation item to a second communication partner. All statementsrelating to the communication system, in particular the target distancemeasuring device, apply analogously to the target distance measuringdevice.

The invention further relates to a telescopic sight device for acommunication system as described. The telescopic sight device ischaracterized by a communication device and a display device comprisinga visual field which varies depending on the alignment of the telescopicsight device, wherein the communication device is configured to receiveobject information items transmitted by a communication partner, and thedisplay device is configured to display received object informationitems, wherein objects located outside of the visual field at a givenorientation of the telescopic sight device are displayable or displayedmarked as outside of the visual field. All statements relating to thecommunication system, in particular the telescopic sight device, applyanalogously to the telescopic sight device.

Finally, the invention relates to a method for transmitting detectedobject information items between at least two communication partners.The method is characterized in that a communication system as describedis used for its implementation. All embodiments of the communicationsystem apply analogously to the method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplaryembodiments in the drawing figures. Shown are in:

FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of a communication system according to oneembodiment;

FIGS. 2-4 each a display of a display device of a telescopic sightdevice according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system 1 accordingto an embodiment.

The communication system 1 serves to transmit detected objectinformation items between a plurality, that is, at least two,communication partners 2-4. The transmission of detected objectinformation items, and all further information items, takes placebetween the respective communication partners 2-4 of the communicationsystem 1 via a radio-based, in particular bidirectional, possiblydata-encrypted, communication connection (see arrow 5) between therespective communication partners 2-4 of the communication system 1. Aradio-based communication connection can be based on any communicationstandard for radio-based data transmission, so that reference is made toBluetooth or WLAN connections only by way of example.

The first communication partner 2 of the communication system 1 is atarget distance measuring device 6. The target distance measuring device6 is configured to detect a distance between the location of the targetdistance measuring device 6 and an object 7 or target remote therefrom,and for this purpose comprises a specific detection region 8. In theembodiment shown, the target distance measuring device 6 is formed as aso-called range finder, in particular laser range finder. The targetdistance measuring device 6 is typically associated with a first user(not shown) of the communication system 1.

The target distance measuring device 6 is formed with an objectdetection device 9. The object detection device 9 implemented ashardware and/or software is configured to detect remote objects 7 whichare both living mobile or stationary objects, that is, humans oranimals, and inanimate mobile or stationary objects, that is, forexample, land or air vehicles, buildings, etc., and to generate at leastone object information item OI directly or indirectly describing orrelating to a respective detected object. The object information item OIcan, for example, describe or relate to the orientation and/or positionof an object 7, in particular also the relative orientation and/orposition of the object 7 relative to the target distance measuringdevice 6. To detect respective remote objects 7, the object detectiondevice 9 can be equipped with suitable object detection algorithms,which, in particular based on specific detectable object-specificfeatures, are configured to detect specific objects 7, possibly from aplurality of detected objects 7.

The object detection device 9 optionally comprises a hardware and/orsoftware implemented selection device 10, which is configured for theuser-side selection of certain detected remote objects 7 from a numberof remote objects 7 detected by means of the object detection device 9.The selection device 10 is a user interface 11, that is, for example, auser actuating element arranged or formed on a housing (not designated)of the target distance measuring device 6, via which a user can make aselection of certain detected remote objects 7 from a number of remoteobjects 7 detected by means of the object detection device 9. The objectdetection device 9 can be configured to generate at least one objectinformation item OI describing a user-side-selected detected remoteobject 7.

The target distance measuring device 6 is further formed having acommunication device 12. The communication device 12 is configured forradio-based, possibly encrypted, transmission of information to and/orfrom a further communication partner 3, 4 of the communication system 1.Specifically, the communication device 12 can be an optionally modular,transmitting and/or receiving device. The communication device 12 isconfigured to transmit an object information item OI generated by theobject detection device 9 to further communication partners 3, 4 of thecommunication system 1.

A second communication partner 3 of the communication system 1 is atelescopic sight device 13, optionally fastenable or fastened to afirearm device (not shown) such as a rifle. The telescopic sight device13 is configured for optically enlarging or magnifying a scene remotefrom the location of the telescopic sight device 13 or an object 7 ortarget located within such a scene, and comprises suitable opticallymagnifying elements, that is, in particular, an optically magnifyingarrangement 14, for this purpose, in particular lens-like or -shaped,optical elements (not shown). The optically magnified or enlargeddisplay of the scene remote from the location of the telescopic sightdevice 13 can be done, for example, electronically and/or optically. Inthe exemplary embodiment shown, the telescopic sight device 13 is formedas an optical and/or electronic telescopic sight device. The telescopicsight device 13 can be associated with a second user (not shown) of thecommunication system 1 in which can be, for example, a sharp shooter.

The telescopic sight device 13 is formed having a display device 15. Thedisplay device 15 or the telescopic sight device 13 comprises a visualfield 16 that varies depending on the (spatial) orientation of thetelescopic sight device 13. The visual field 16 changes accordingly in amanner known per se depending on the (spatial) orientation of thetelescopic sight device 13. The display device 15 can be arranged in anoptical channel (not shown) of the telescopic sight device 13 extendingbetween an eyepiece and an objective end. The display device 15 can be,for example, an electronic display, in particular, an OLED display.

The telescopic sight device 13 is also formed having a communicationdevice 17. The communication device 17 is configured for radio-based,possibly encrypted, transmission of information to and/or from a furthercommunication partner 2, 4 of the communication system 1. Specifically,the communication device 17 can be an optionally modular, transmittingand/or receiving device. The communication device 17 is configured toreceive an object information item OI transmitted by the firstcommunication partner 2.

The display device 15 is configured to display generated displaycontents, in addition to the display contents supplied by the telescopicsight device 13, that is, in particular the scene optically magnified bymeans of the telescopic sight device 13, even display contents notsupplied by the telescopic sight device 13, that is, in particularindependently of the display contents supplied by the telescopic sightdevice 13. The latter display contents are, in particular, receivedobject information items OI. The display device 15 is thus configured toalso display received object information items OI in addition to thedisplay contents supplied by the telescopic sight device 13. It isessential that, at a given orientation of the telescopic sight device 13and a visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 defined by thegiven orientation of the telescopic sight device 13, objects 7A, 7Blocated outside of the visual field 16 are marked as displayable ordisplayed outside the visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13.Objects 7 supplied by the telescopic sight device 13 and actuallylocated in the visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 at agiven orientation of the telescopic sight device 13, and additionallyobjects 7A, 7B located outside the visual field 16 of the telescopicsight device 13 at the given orientation of the telescopic sight device13 can be displayed by means of the display device 15. At the givenorientation of the telescopic sight device 13, objects 7A, 7B locatedoutside the visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 aredisplayed marked as located outside the visual field 16.

On the one hand, the display contents supplied via the telescopic sightdevice 13 are therefore displayed to the user of the telescopic sightdevice 13 via the display device 15 of the telescopic sight device 13.On the other hand, received object information items OI can be displayedto a user of the telescopic sight device 13, wherein if these includeobjects 7A, 7B located outside the visual field 16 of the telescopicsight device 13 at a given orientation of the telescopic sight device13, are displayed marked as located outside the visual field 16 of thetelescopic sight device 13. A user of the telescopic sight device 13 isinformed via the display device 15 on the one hand about objects 7actually located in the visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device13 and about objects 7A, 7B located outside the visual field 16 of thetelescopic sight device 13 or the scene. The information content of thedisplay device 15 is therefore not limited to the objects 7 actuallylocated in the visual field of the telescopic sight device 13.

As can be seen with reference to FIG. 2-4, which each have a user-side,that is, with proper use of the telescopic sight device 13, viewabledisplay of the display device 15 of a telescopic sight device 13according to one embodiment, an object 7A, 7B described by the objectinformation item OI, in particular located outside the visual field 16of the telescopic sight device 13 at a given orientation of thetelescopic sight device 13, does not have to be displayed as such anobject 7A, 7B, that is, with the actually given, in particular visual,features of the object 7A, 7B. An object 7A, 7B described by the objectinformation item OI can be displayed in a different, that is, inparticular, in an abstracted, representation. The same applies toobjects 7 described by the object information item OI, in particularlocated within the visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 ata given orientation of the telescopic sight device 13.

With reference to FIG. 2-4, it can be seen that an object 7A, 7Bdescribed by the object information item OI, in particular outside thevisual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 at a given orientationof the telescopic sight device 13, can be represented by graphicaland/or alphanumeric information items. A correspondingly changed orabstracted representation of objects 7A, 7B described by the objectinformation item OI can, for example, with regard to the data volumetransmitted between the communication partners 2-4, be expedient, as thetransmitted data volume can be kept relatively small.

At the given orientation of the telescopic sight device 13 in FIG. 2-4,objects 7, 7A, 7B located within and outside the visual field 16 of thetelescopic sight device 13 are respectively displayed marked as outsidethe visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 by a graphicalinformation item, in particular a symbol, here purely by way of example,a triangle. A corresponding graphical information item, that is, inparticular a corresponding symbol, can accordingly be a graphicalelement or a combination of several, possibly different, graphicalelements. At a given orientation of the telescopic sight device 13, itcan also be seen that an object 7 located within the visual field 16 ofthe telescopic sight device 13 is displayed marked as within the visualfield 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 by a graphical informationitem, in particular a symbol, here, purely by way of example, a point.

For the purpose of better illustration, the objects 7A, 7B in FIG. 2-4located outside the visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13are additionally shown outside the visual field 16 or outside thedisplay device 15 or outside the telescopic sight device 13.

As can be seen with reference to FIG. 2-4, a respective symbol isexpediently a direction symbol, in particular arrow-like or -shaped,which indicates a direction in which the respective object 7A, 7B islocated relative to the telescopic sight device 13. The informationcontent of the representation of respective objects 7A, 7B displayedmarked as outside the visual field 16 is thus increased in a simplemanner.

Alternatively or additionally, at the or a given orientation of thetelescopic sight device 13, objects 7A, 7B located outside the visualfield 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 may be displayed marked asoutside the visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 by analphanumeric information item. A corresponding alphanumeric informationitem can be at least one alphanumeric element, in particular a letter ora number, or a combination of several, possibly different, alphanumericelements. The same applies, as mentioned, for objects 7 located withinthe visual field 16 of the telescopic sight device 13 at the givenorientation of the telescopic sight device 13.

In order to ensure a clear optical distinctness of respective objects 7,7A, 7B located within and outside the visual field 16 of the telescopicsight device 13 at the or a given orientation of the telescopic sightdevice 13, objects 7 located within the visual field 16 can be displayedby a first graphical information item at the or a given orientation ofthe telescopic sight device 13 marked as within the visual field 16 andobjects 7A, 7B located outside the visual field 16 at the or a givenorientation of the telescopic sight device 13 can be displayed by asecond graphical information item different from the first graphicalinformation item marked as outside the visual field 16. As mentioned,objects 7 located within the visual field 16 in FIG. 2-4 are shown byway of example as a point and objects 7A, 7B located outside the visualfield 16 by way of example as a triangle. First and second graphicalinformation items thus differ in at least one symbol parameter, inparticular describing the geometry and/or the color of a respectivesymbol. The same could be effected, alternatively or additionally, withpurely alphanumerical information.

It can be seen from FIG. 4 that objects 7, 7A, 7B which differ in atleast one object parameter relating to a property of the respectiveobject 7, 7A, 7B can be displayed by different graphical informationitems and/or by different alphanumeric information items. For example,the distance of the respective objects 7, 7A, 7B to the telescopic sightdevice 13 can be used as a respective object parameter. Consequently,objects 7, 7A, 7B located at different distances from the telescopicsight device 13 can be represented differently, that is, in particularin different colors and/or geometries. In FIG. 4, objects 7A, 7B locatedat different distances from the telescopic sight device 13 are shown,for example, in different sizes.

It can be seen from FIG. 3 that objects 7, 7A, 7B located within andoutside the visual field 16 at a given orientation of the telescopicsight device 13 can additionally be displayed with at least oneadditional alphanumeric information item. The alphanumeric additionalinformation item can be, for example, a distance information (seespecification “501 m”, “200 m”, “400 m”) item describing a distance ofthe respective object relative to the telescopic sight device 13, and/orposition information item describing a current or future position, inparticular GPS coordinate position, of the respective object 7, 7A, 7B,and/or a relative distance information item describing a current orfuture relative position of the respective object 7, 7A, 7B relative tothe telescopic sight device 13, and/or a subject information itemdescribing a type and/or subject-matter of the object 7, 7A, 7B, and/oran object evaluation information item that evaluates the object 7, 7A,7B as friendly (“friend”), hostile or neutral or unknown. Acorresponding distinction can be made, for example, by detectingvisually detectable features of the object 7, 7A, 7B, that is, forexample, the color of the object 7, 7A, 7B. Corresponding additionalinformation, that is, for example, position information describingcurrent or future positions, in particular GPS coordinate positions, ofa respective object 7, 7A, 7B, can be generated by a furthercommunication partner 4 of the communication system 1 and transmitted tothe target distance measuring device 6 and/or the telescopic sightdevice 13.

FIG. 1 shows that the communication system 1, in addition to the firstand second communication partner(s) 2, 3, can additionally comprise atleast one other communication partner 4. The further communicationpartner 4 is also formed having a communication device 18. Thecommunication device 18 is configured for radio-based, possiblyencrypted, transmission of information to the first and/or secondcommunication partner(s) 2, 3 and/or from the first and/or secondcommunication partner(s) 2, 3. The communication device 18 can again bean optionally modular, transmitting and/or receiving device.

The further communication partner 4 can be formed having a communicationdevice 18, for example, as a user-side mobile end device 19, inparticular as a laptop, smartphone or tablet PC. The furthercommunication partner 4 can be configured to process the objectinformation items OI transmitted by the first communication partner 2 interms of hardware and/or software, that is, in particular with regard toan evaluation criterion, such as to evaluate a temporal change of theobject information item OI, for example, at a time-varying position ofthe object 7, 7A, 7B described by the object information item OI.

The further communication partner 4 can be configured to generatecorresponding additional information, that is, for example, positioninformation describing current or future positions, in particular GPScoordinate positions, of a respective object 7, 7A, 7B and to transmitto the target distance measuring device 6 and/or the telescopic sightdevice 13.

The further communication partner 4 can comprise a display device 20 fordisplaying information and a storage device (not shown) in whichgeographical map information is stored. The display device 20 can, forexample, be configured to display geographical map information andadditionally located objects 7, 7A, 7B described by a received objectinformation item OI and/or a line of vision described by a receivedvisual field information item and/or a visual field 16 described by areceived visual field information item.

A method for transmitting detected object information item OI between atleast two communication partners 2-4 can be implemented with theexemplary embodiment of a communication system 1 shown in FIG. 1.

In conjunction with FIGS. 2 to 4, finally, it should be noted that areticle of the telescopic sight device 13 is indicated by the dashedhorizontal and vertical lines.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A target distance measuring device comprising acommunication device and an object detection device, wherein the objectdetection device is configured to detect remote objects and to generatean object information item describing a respective detected remoteobject, and the communication device is configured to transmit agenerated object information item to a second communication partnerwhich is formed as a telescopic sight device that is fastenable orfastened to a firearm device, the telescopic sight device having acommunication device and a display device displaying a visual fieldwhich varies depending on the orientation of the telescopic sightdevice, wherein the communication device is configured to receive objectinformation items transmitted by the target measuring device, and thedisplay device is configured to display received object informationitems, wherein objects located outside the visual field at a givenorientation of the telescopic sight device are displayable or displayedmarked as outside the visual field.
 17. The target distance measuringdevice according to claim 16, wherein objects located outside the visualfield at the given orientation of the telescopic sight device aredisplayable or displayed marked as outside the visual field by agraphical information item, and/or objects located outside the visualfield at the given orientation of the telescopic sight device aredisplayable or displayed marked as outside the visual field by analphanumeric information item.
 18. The target distance measuring deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein a graphical information item comprises atleast one graphical element or a combination of a plurality of differentgraphical elements, and an alphanumeric information item comprises atleast one alphanumeric element or a combination of several, as the casemay be, different, alphanumeric elements.
 19. The target distancemeasuring device according to claim 17, wherein objects located withinthe visual field at the given orientation of the telescopic sight deviceare displayable or displayed marked as within the visual field by afirst graphical information item and objects located outside the visualfield at the given orientation of the telescopic sight device aredisplayable or displayed marked as outside the visual field by a secondgraphical information item different from the first graphicalinformation item.
 20. The target distance measuring device according toclaim 19, wherein a first graphical information item and a secondgraphical information item differ in at least one symbol parameterdescribing the geometry and/or the color of a respective symbol.
 21. Thetarget distance measuring device to claim 17, wherein objects locatedoutside the visual field at the given orientation of the telescopicsight device are displayable or displayed marked as outside the visualfield by a graphical information item and/or by an alphanumericinformation item, and/or wherein objects which differ in at least oneobject parameter relating to a property of the respective object aredisplayable or displayed by different graphical information items and/oralphanumeric information items.
 22. The target distance measuring deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein objects located outside the visual fieldat the given orientation of the telescopic sight device are displayableor displayed marked as outside the visual field by a graphicalinformation item in the form of a symbol, wherein the symbol is adirectional symbol which indicates a direction in which the respectiveobject is located relative to the telescopic sight device.
 23. Thetarget distance measuring device according to claim 16, wherein objectslocated within and/or outside the visual field are additionallydisplayable or displayed with at least one alphanumeric additionalinformation item; wherein the alphanumeric information item or theadditional alphanumeric information item is a distance information itemdescribing a distance of the respective object relative to thetelescopic sight device, a position information item describing acurrent or future position of the respective object, a relative distanceinformation item describing a current or future relative position of therespective object relative to the telescopic sight device, a subjectinformation item describing the type or subject of the object, or anobject evaluation information item evaluating the object as friendly,hostile or neutral/unknown.
 24. The target distance measuring deviceaccording to claim 16, wherein the object detection device comprises aselection device for the user-side selection of certain detected remoteobjects from a number of remote objects detected by means of the objectdetection device, wherein the object detection device is configured togenerate an object information item describing at least oneuser-side-selected detected remote object.
 25. The target distancemeasuring device according to claim 16, further comprising at least onefurther communication partner which is formed as a user-side mobile enddevice having a communication device, wherein the communication deviceis configured to receive object information items transmitted by thetarget measuring device; wherein the further communication partnercomprises a display device for displaying information and a memorydevice in which geographical map information is stored, wherein thedisplay device is configured to display geographical map information andadditionally objects located therein, described by a received objectinformation item, a line of vision described by a received visual fieldinformation item, or a visual field described by a received visual fieldinformation item.
 26. A telescopic sight device that is fastenable orfastened to a firearm device, the telescopic sight device comprising acommunication device and a display device displaying a visual fieldwhich varies depending on the orientation of the telescopic sightdevice, wherein the communication device is configured to receive objectinformation items transmitted by a first communication partner that istarget distance measuring device having a communication device and anobject detection device, wherein the object detection device isconfigured to detect remote objects and to generate an objectinformation item describing a respective detected remote object, and thecommunication device is configured to transmit a generated objectinformation item to the telescopic sight device; wherein the displaydevice is configured to display received object information items,wherein objects located outside the visual field at a given orientationof the telescopic sight device are displayable or displayed marked asoutside the visual field.
 27. The telescopic sight device according toclaim 26, wherein objects located outside the visual field at the givenorientation of the telescopic sight device are displayable or displayedmarked as outside the visual field by a graphical information item,and/or objects located outside the visual field at the given orientationof the telescopic sight device are displayable or displayed marked asoutside the visual field by an alphanumeric information item.
 28. Thetelescopic sight device according to claim 27, wherein a graphicalinformation item comprises at least one graphical element or acombination of several, as the case may be, different, graphicalelements, and an alphanumeric information item comprises at least onealphanumeric element or a combination of a plurality of different,alphanumeric elements.
 29. The telescopic sight device according toclaim 27, wherein objects located within the visual field at the givenorientation of the telescopic sight device are displayable or displayedmarked as within the visual field by a first graphical information itemand objects located outside the visual field at the given orientation ofthe telescopic sight device are displayable or displayed marked asoutside the visual field by a second graphical information itemdifferent from the first graphical information item.
 30. The telescopicsight device according to claim 29, wherein a first graphicalinformation item and a second graphical information item differ in atleast one symbol parameter describing the geometry and/or the color of arespective symbol.
 31. The telescopic sight device to claim 27, whereinobjects located outside the visual field at the given orientation of thetelescopic sight device are displayable or displayed marked as outsidethe visual field by a graphical information item or by an alphanumericinformation item, and/or wherein objects which differ in at least oneobject parameter relating to a property of the respective object aredisplayable or displayed by different graphical information items and/oralphanumeric information items.
 32. The telescopic sight deviceaccording to claim 27, wherein objects located outside the visual fieldat the given orientation of the telescopic sight device are displayableor displayed marked as outside the visual field by a graphicalinformation item in the form of a symbol, wherein the symbol is adirectional symbol which indicates a direction in which the respectiveobject is located relative to the telescopic sight device.
 33. Thetelescopic sight device according to claim 26, wherein objects locatedwithin and/or outside the visual field are additionally displayable ordisplayed with at least one alphanumeric additional information item;wherein the alphanumeric information item or the additional alphanumericinformation item is a distance information item describing a distance ofthe respective object relative to the telescopic sight device, aposition information item describing a current or future position of therespective object, a relative distance information item describing acurrent or future relative position of the respective object relative tothe telescopic sight device, a subject information item describing thetype or subject of the object, or an object evaluation information itemevaluating the object as friendly, hostile or neutral/unknown.
 34. Thetelescopic sight device according to claim 26, wherein the objectdetection device comprises a selection device for the user-sideselection of certain detected remote objects from a number of remoteobjects detected by means of the object detection device, wherein theobject detection device is configured to generate an object informationitem describing at least one user-side-selected detected remote object.35. The telescopic sight device according to claim 26, furthercomprising at least one further communication partner which is formed asa user-side mobile end device having a communication device, wherein thecommunication device is configured to receive object information itemstransmitted by the target measuring device; wherein the furthercommunication partner comprises a display device for displayinginformation and a memory device in which geographical map information isstored, wherein the display device is configured to display geographicalmap information and additionally objects located therein, described by areceived object information item, a line of vision described by areceived visual field information item, or a visual field described by areceived visual field information item.